Steamship Authority governors agreed this week to transfer a lease the boat line holds on four acres at the airport business park to the county, which is eyeing the property for a possible renewable energy project.
The 20-year lease from the airport, SSA general counsel Steven Sayers said costs $30,000 a year, expires in 2019 with an option to renew for a further 20 years.
Discussion about the transfer took place at the monthly SSA meeting held in Oak Bluffs on Tuesday.
It was a banner year for the Vineyard Transit Authority, which posted its highest ridership numbers ever. But while an unprecedented number of passengers chose public transit on the Island this summer, transit authority administrator Angela Grant said her organization could use some relief.
“We should be running more bus service than we actually are, but we don’t have the funding to do it,” she said.
A longtime member of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission moved last night to reconsider the vote on the roundabout.
“This is going to be our last opportunity to reconsider this decision,” said Leonard Jason Jr. “We have a chance, in my mind, to put the bullet back in the gun.” The comments came at the regular commission meeting last evening.
The commission voted narrowly two weeks ago to approve the controversial traffic improvement for the blinker intersection in Oak Bluffs. The vote was 7-6. Mr. Jason was a vocal opponent.
Hurricane Irene might have missed the Island but it still managed to be felt in town coffers. On Tuesday Oak Bluffs town administrator Robert Whritenhour reported that harbor receipts were down $41,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011, which began in July.
Striped bass were scarce at this year's derby, following a trend in recent years, but Vineyard fishermen may have reason for optimism after two major stock assessments have shown a record or near-record number of spawning fish in the Chesapeake Bay.
After a clerical error in this year’s community development block grant application saw the Island miss out on $2 million in money for child care assistance and housing rehabilitation, Oak Bluffs residents in need will still get some relief from an overlooked program account.
